Door lock



y 1960 J. H. ROETHEL 2,944,850

DOOR LOCK Filed Feb. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

a z WW y 1960 J. H. ROETHEL 2,944,850

7 DOOR LOCK Filed Feb. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW DOOR LOCK John H.Roethel, Coral Gables, Fla. (15145 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit '35,Mich.)

Filed Feb. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 566,141

8 Claims. (Cl. 292223) This invention relates to a latch controlmechanism for swinging doors, particularly the doors of automobile orother vehicle bodies, an object of this invention being to'provide animproved door latch mechanism which is characterized by its simplicityand compactness in construction and which is economical to manufacture,comparatively quiet in operation and eflicient in use.

The improved door latch mechanism of the present invention comprises apivoted latch bolt spring urged into latching engagement with a strikeror keeper device mounted on a body pillar, latch device release meansfor disengaging the latch device from the keeper or striker device, saidrelease means including an actuator which is preferably a pivotallymounted lever, and a pivoted member or lever actuatable to render thelatter inoperative to eifect disengagement of the latch device from thestriker or keeper device.

7 More particularly the-door latch mechanism embodied in the presentinvention comprises a support having a first and secondplate portionsangularly related to each other. The first or main plate portion hassecured to the outer face thereof a combination bolt housing anddovetail structure, the latch bolt in door latched position projectingthrough an aperture in said housing for engagement with the striker orkeeper device and being retractible within said housing to permitunlatching of the door.

The latch bolt is provided with a pin or the like projecting through aslot in the main plate portion. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention the pin or the like is coupled to one arm of a multi-arm levermeans mounted on the inner side of said main plate portion, said levermeans being adapted to be swung to move the latch bolt from door latchedto door unlatched position by either an outer manually operable meansactuatable by an outside operator, such as a push button, pull-outhandle or the like mounted on the outside of a vehicle door, or by aninner manually operable means actuatable through a remote control meanscontrolled by an operator mounted on the inside of the vehicle door. Theouter manually operable means includes a member swingable into and outof abutting relation to a part of the multi-arm lever means. When theswingable member is in abutting relation to the lever means part, theoutside operator is effective to cause retracting movement of the latchbolt and, conversely, when the swingable member is out'of abuttingrelation to the lever means part, the outside operator, although beingfreely movable, is ineffective to cause retracting movement of the latchbolt.

The inner manually operable means for swinging the multi-arm lever meansincludes a lever means mounted on the second plate portion, which latterlever means has a dual function. When swung in a first direction, thesecond plate portion lever means is effective to swing the multi-armlever means to cause retraction of the latch-bolt. When swung in asecond or opposite direction said. lever means is effective to swing theswingable memher out of abutting relation to the multi-arm lever meansatent ice Patented July 12, 1960 part thereby rendering the outermanually operable means inefiective to cause retraction of the latchbolt.

Other objects and features of this invention will appear in thefollowing description and appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating the mechanism mounted on the innerside of the main plate portion of a door latch mechanism constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 2--2of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in part similar to Fig. 1 illustrating some of thelatch mechanism in a second operative position.

Fig. 4 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 44of Fig. 3 looking in the direction 0 the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the relationship in latchedposition of the latch bolt of the latch mechanism to a striker or keeperdevice mounted on a vehicle body pillar. I

Fig. 6 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 6-6of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, a preferredembodiment of the present invention as applied to the door and framestructure of an automobile body. The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1to 4, inclusive, comprises a case plate or main plate portion 10provided with screw bosses 11 adapted to receive screws for fasteningthe case plate to the jambportion or free edge wall of a vehicle door.The case plate 10 is provided with a flange or second plate portion 12adapted to be positioned along the inner panel of the door.

The case plate 10 has secured to the front face thereof a combinationhousing and dovetail structure 13. Pivotally mounted within the housing,as best viewed in Fig. 6, is a latch bolt 14, the latter being pivotedon a pivot stud .15 mounted on the case plate 10. It will be noted thatthe latch bolt '14 comprises a finger or lever element having atoothlike projection 16 at the free end thereof. The toothlikeprojection 16 normally projects through an aperture in the lower wall 17of the housing 13 where it is adapted to engage a striker device, aswill be more fully explained.

The latch bolt 14 carries a pin 18 which projects through a slot 19 inthe case plate 10. The pin 18 provides the means for coupling the latchbolt 14 to its oper. ating mechanism. Referring to Fig. 1, it will benoted that a multi-arm lever, generally designated 20, is provided whichis pivoted on the same pivot or shoulder stud 15 carrying the latch bolt14. The multi-arm lever 20 is provided with three arms. The first arm 21extends in a generally horizontal direction, the second arm 23 isslightly upwardly inclined and the third arm 22 extends in a generallyvertical direction.

The first arm 21 overlies the latch bolt 14 and is directly coupledthereto by the pin 18 which projects through an aperture in the arm.Thus, upon the multi arm lever 20 being swung in a clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. l, the latch bolt 14 will also be swung in the samedirection and the tooth-like projection 16 thereon will be retractedinto the housing 13.

The multi-arm lever 20 is'swingable in bolt retracting dtreetton byeither enter or inher manually operable' means, the term's' outer orinner'referringto the means aetuatahle from the outside or inside 'brthe doo:r, resp'ec tivel Tile outer rnanual'lyoperable means comprises agenerally vertically extending lever'24pivotally .m'ounted at its lowerend on the case plate 10 on a pivot stud 25. The lever 24fis swiiigable.in a plane parallel to' the plane of the case plate 16. At itsu'p'perend the lever 24 is provided with' a fiange'zo adapted to beengaged by an operator mounted on the outside of the vehicle door, whichoperator might be a plunger de'vic'e operated by a push button, pull outhandle 'or the like. The case plate 10 is provided with a stop 27 whichmaybe in the fo-trnof a pin having a rubber'sleeve thereon. The stop 27limits the swinging position of the lever 24 in an outward direction.The lever 24 in its normal rest positi'on is maintained inabuttingrelation to the stop 27 by a semi' c'oil spring 28. The spiing28 has its inner end wound about and interlockedwith a kerf 29 hi thepivot stud 25. The free end so or the spring 2:; acts against a lug 3ion th'e lever 24.

At its upper or free" end the lever 24 carries a generally horizontallyextending link 32, the link 32 being pivotally connected to the lever24' by a pivot stud 33;. The link 32 extends toward the, case plateflange 12. At its lower edge and intermediate the ends thereof the link32 is provided with an abutment lug 34 projecting awa from the surfaceor the case plate 10. I Fig. 1,- the link 32 is shown ih-its normal"operative position with the lug 34 theree'hih in abuttin'gr'elation'tothe iippei end ofthe arm 22 of the multi arin lever 20. The link 32 isnormally maintained i'h'this relationship by a semi-coil spring 35having its inner end wound about and interlocked with a ker'f 36 in thepivot stud 33. The free end of the spring 35 overlies the 1ug s4 on thelink 32 normally urging the latter downwardly with the lower edge 37 erthe link resting on top of the multiarm lever arm 23. g

With the link 32 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the latch mechanismmay be said to be inoperative or unlocked condition. That is, actuationof the outside op rator, such as the push button or pull out handle,will catu'se theleve'r 24 to be swung about its pivot stud 25 in aclockwise direction causing the link 32 to be bodily shifted to theright; as viewed in Fig. l. The abutment 34 will abut the upper end ofthe arm 22 causing the multi-arrn lever- 20 to be swung in a clock wisedirection. Because the latch bolt 14 is coupled tothe multi-arm leverarm 2 1 by the pin 18', the latch bolt '14 will be swung upwardly andretracted into its housin'g 13. The vehicle door may then be swung open.

The upper edge 38 of the link 32 may be provided with a curved abutmentportion 39 adapted to engage a stop 46 mounted on the case plate 10. Thestop 40 is provided only to prevent excessive travel of the 32 towardthe flange 12 when it is in the position Shown in Fig. 3. it will benoted that the link 32 when in the position shown in Fig. 3 has no partthereof in abutting relation to arm 22 of the multi-arm lever 20. Inthis position of the link 32, the lock mechanism may be said to be freefloating. That is, actuation of the outside operator, such as the pushbutton, or pull out handle, is ineffective to cause clockwise movement,as viewed in the. drawing, of the multi-arm lever 20 and, therefore, thelatch bolt 14' cannot be retracted.

If it were desired to make the latch mechanism of thepresent embodimentof the type wherein the outside operator is blocked against movementwhen the latch ineclianism is in door locked condition, it would only hehecessari 'th" have the ste 40 to a position in which,

it would lie inabutting relation to the link abutment 3 9 when the link32 was in the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby blocking swingingmovement of the lever 24. When the link 32 was in the position shown inFig. 1, the abutment 39 thereon would pass beneath the stop 40 and wouldnot interfere with swinging movement of the lever 24.

The link 32 of the present embodiment is adapted to be swung from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to its position shown in Fig. 3 by abell cranklever 41 mounted on the case plate flange 12. The bell crank lever 41 isactuatable through a remote control mechanism (not shown) ofconventional and: known construction wherein the door handle on theinside of the vehicle door is swingable in a fi' rst direction to causethe door to be unlatched and is swingable in the opposite direction intoa position to cause the latch mechanism to be placed in latch lockedcondition. Provision is made in the mecha i m to retain the handle andlinkage in said second or latch locked position.

, The bell crank lever 41 is pivotally mounted on the case plate flange12 on a pivot stud 42 and is'provided with a generally horizontallyextending arm 43 and a generally vertically extending farm 44. The arm44 is adapted to be connected in any suitable manner to'th' vehicle doorremote e htroi mechanism. The arm 43 is provided with a short liangeportion '45 positioned to underlie the free end 46 of the link 32. Itwill be noted that the nee end 47 of the bell crank arm 43 "ovei'liestheend of arm 23 of themulti-ar'ni lever 20. Thus, if the'b e'll cranklever 41 is swung in a clockwise direction from thepo'sitio'n shown inFig; 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4 the arm 43 is effective to liftthe link 3/2 neat its main-arm lever .20 operating 'esition, shown inFig. l to its non-operating'po'sition shown in Fig. It will beunderstood-that the 35 is a relatively weak spring and has insufficientforce to overcome thespring or other device in the remote controlmechanism effective to hold the bell crank lever 4-1 in the positionshown in Fig. 4. p V thebell crank lever 41 is swung in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, .the under-edge "of thenee end 47 or the arms 43 will abut the lever arm 23- causing themulti-arm lever 20 to be swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. l causing the latch bolt 14 to be retracted within its housing 13'.The bolt 14 may always be retracted through the medium of the bell cranklever 41 regardless of whether or not the link 32 is in operative'orfinoperative position. r After iretracti'on into the housing 13 thelatchbolt i4 s restored to its normal position by a semi-coil spring 4t}having its inner end secured to the pivot stud 15 and its free endengaging a lug 49 on the arm 22 of the rnultifarm 1ever means 20. Asviewed in Figs. 1 and '3, tlie s pring 48 ur'ges the multi-arrn levermeans 20 in a counterclockwise direction thereby urging the latch boltin the same direction.

eferring-mat e Figs. '7- audit, they illustrate the ctoperativerelationship between the latch bolt 14 and its housing l3 witha keeper or striker device, generally designated 50., In general, thekeeper of sfr ikcr 50 coinprise'sa c shaped structure having upper andlower body portionssl 311K152; respectively, joined by a vertical rib orwall 53. The striker or keeper 50 is mounted on the vehicle body pillarwith the opening of the C-shape facing outwardly. The. lower bodyportion 52 is formed in its upper surface 54. with two integral rackteeth, a safety locking tooth 55 and final locking tooth 56. The teeth55 and 56 are depressed with respect to the upper surface 54 of, thebody portion 52. When the latch bolt projection engages the striker orkeeper 50 behind the teeth 55 the vehicle eer, while not tightly eie'ea, is saidl to be in 'sa'f ety latched And when the latch bolt projection 16 engages the striker or keeper behindthe tooth 56, the vehicledoor is in final latched position. The upper surface 54 of the lowerbody portion forms a ramp engaged by the underside of the housing 13. Itwill be understood that as the housing slides on the ramp 54, the latchbolt 14 will retract against the resistance of the spring 48 as theprojection 16 engages the teeth 55 and 56, the projection 16 having anangularly inclined leading surface 57. The foregoing, of course, onlyoccurs as the door is. moved from an open to a closed position. Movementof the door from a closed to an open position is inhibited unless thelatch bolt 14 is manually retracted into the housing 13, as has beenexplained.

A yieldable wedging means is carried on the underside of the upper bodyportion 51 of the striker device and engages the upper surface of thehousing 13 to firmly hold the door against vibratory movement in avertical plane. The wedging means in the present instance comprises aslidable wedge block 58 controlled by a compression spring 59, the wedgeblock and spring being retained within a recess 60 in the lower surface61 of the upper body portion 51 by means of a guide rod 62 fastened tothe end walls of the recess 60. The spring 59 is installed under initialcompression and constantly urges the wedge block 58 outwardly or to theleft as viewed in Fig. 6. During closing movement of the door the wedgeblock 58 is carried inwardly to some extent against the resistance ofthe spring 59, the wedge block tending to tighten itself against theupper (surface of the housing 13 thereby urging the housing under sidein tight engagernent with the surface. 54 to minimize any possible'vibratory movement of the door.

' The housing 13 and striker or keeper device 50 embody a particularsafety feature.'. It will be noted that the front face of the housing 13comprises a plate 63 hav- 'ing a portion or flange 64 projecting belowthe level of the under side of the housing. As best seen in Fig. 5, theflange 64 enters into an undercut 6S behind the teeth 55 and 56 of thekeeper. Thus, should any forcebe exerted on the vehicle body tending toseparate the free edge wall 66 of the door from the body pillar 67 in alateral direction, that is, a direction normal to the usual direction ofengagement and disengagement, the flange 64 abutting the teeth willresist such separation. It will be readily apparent that without thesafety flange 64 disengagement of the latch bolt .and striker couldoccur if the two are laterally separated under abnormal conditions suchas is exist when a vehicle is upset or involved in a collision.

1. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door, andhaving a flange extending from the inner edge thereof,a pivoted latchmeans mounted on the outer .face of said plate portion, a lever meanspivotally mounted on the inner face of said plate portion ,for swingingmovement about a common pivot axis with said latch means, coupling meansfixedly coupling said lever means to said latch means whereby both areswingable in unison upon actuation of either one, :said lever meanshavingan arm extending upwardly fromthe pivotal axis thereof, outermanually operable means for pivotally actuating said lever means andincluding a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion [and having aportion movable toward said flange upon swingingsaid lever, link meanspivotally mounted on said lever portion and having a part arranged inopera- ,tive relationship with a partof said arm and being shiftsaidcontrol means to render said link means ineffective to swing said levermeans.

2. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door andhaving a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a pivoted latchmeans mounted on the outer face of said plate portion, a lever meanspivotally mounted on the inner face of said plate portion for swingingmovement about a common pivot axis with said latch means, said levermeans comprising a unitary member having at least two arms, couplingmeans projecting through an aperture in said plate portion fixedlycoupling one arm of said lever means to said latch meanswhereby both areswingable in unison upon actuation of either one, a second arm of saidlever means extending upwardly from the pivotal axis thereof, outermanually operable means for pivotally actuating said lever means andincluding a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion having aportion movable toward said flange upon swinging said lever, link meanspivotally mounted on said lever portion and having a part arranged inoperative relationship with a part of said second arm and beingshiftable upon swinging said lever to cause said lever means to swing,said coupling means transmitting swinging movement of said lever meansto said latch means to swing the same from door latched to doorunlatched condition, control means movably mounted on said support, andinner manually operable means for moving said control means to rendersaid link means ineffective to swing said lever means.

3. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising'aplate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door andhaving a flange extending from the'inner edge thereof, a pivoted latchmeans mounted on the outer face of said plate portion, a lever meanspivotally mounted on the inner face of said plate portion for swingingmovement about a common pivot axis with said latch device, said levermeans comprising a unitary member having a plurality of arms, meansfixedly coupling one arm of said lever means to said latch means wherebyboth are swingable in unison upon actuation of either one, a second armof said lever means extending upwardly from the pivotal axis of saidlever means, and a third arm of said lever means extending toward saidflange, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said levermeans and including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portionmovable toward said flange upon swinging said lever, link meanspivotally mounted on said lever portion and having a part arranged inoperative relationship with a part of "said second arm and beingshiftable upon swinging said lever to cause said lever means to swing,said coupling means transmitting swinging movement of said lever meansto said latch means to swing the same from door latched to doorunlatched condition, and inner'manually operable means including a bellcrank lever movable in 'one direction to render said link meansineffective to swing said lever means, said bell crank lever beingmovable in the opposite direction to engage said third arm to swing saidlever means independently of said outer manually operable means.

, 4. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a

support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wallof the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, apivoted latch device mounted on the outer face of said plate portion, alever means pivotally mounted on the inner face of said plate portion toswing about a common pivot axis with said latch device, coupling meansfixedly coupling said lever means to said latch device whereby both areswingable in unison upon actuation of either one, an arm of said levermeans extending upwardly from the pivotal axis of said lever means,outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said lever meansand including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having7 a portion movable toward said flange upon swinging said lever, linkmeans pivotally mounted on said lever per: tion and having a partnormally arranged operative relation to a part of said arm and being.shi'ftable upon swinging said lever to cause said parts to abut andswing -the lever means thereby to move the latch device from doorlatched to door urn-latched condition, and inner manually operable meanshaving a lever movably mounted on the support and engageable with thelink means to sh' the same to position said parts out of operative r am5. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door andhaving a flange extending from v the inner edge thereof, a pivoted latchdevice mounted on the outer face of said plate portion, a lever meanspivotally mounted on the inner face of said .plate portion, said levermeans comprising a unitary member having at least two arms, couplingmeans projecting through an aperture in said plate portion fixedlycoupling one arm of said lever means to said latch device whereby bothare swingable in unison upon actuation of either one, a secondarmof-said lever means extending upwardly from the pivotal axis of saidlever means, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating saidlever means and including a lever pivotally mounted on said plateportion and having a portion movable toward said flange upon swingingsaid lever, link means pivotally mounted on said lever portion andhavinga part normally arranged in operative relation to a part of saidsecond arm and being shiftable upon swinging said lever to cause saidparts to abut and swing the lever'means thereby to .move;the latchdevice from door latched to door unlatched condition, and inner manuallyoperable means having a lever movably mounted on the support andengageable with the link meansto shift the same to position said partsout of operative relation.

6. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging doon a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the free edge Wall of the door andhaving a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a pivoted latchdevice mounted on theouter face of-said plate portion, a lever meanspivotally mounted on the inner face of said plate portion to swing abouta common pivot axis with said latch device, said lever means comprisinga unitary member having at least two arms, coupling means projectingthrough an aperture in said plate portion fixedly coupling one arm ofsaid 'le'ver means to said latch device whereby both are swingable inunison upon actu'ationof eitherone,

flange upon swinging said lever, link means pivotally mounted on saidlever portion and having a part norina'lly arranged in operativerelation to a part of said second 'arm'a'nd being shiftable uponswinging'sa'id lever to cause said parts to abut and swing thelever'means thereby to move the latch device from near latched to doorunlatched condition, and inner manually'op'erable means having a levermovably mounted on the support and engageable with the link means toshift'the same't'o position said parts out of operative relation.

7. In a door latch mechanism for a swirig'in'g'door, a

support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wallof the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, apivoted latch device mounted on the outer face of said plate portion,alever means pivotally mounted on the inner face ofsaidplate portion toswing about a common pivot axis with said latch device, said lever meanscomprising a unitary member having at least two arms, coupling meansprojecting through an aperture in said plate'portion fixedly couplingone arm of said lever means to said latch device whereby both areswingable in unison upon actuation of either one, a second arm of saidlever means extending upwardly from the pivotal axis of said levermeans, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said levermeans and including a lever 'pivotally mounted on "said plate portionand having a portion movable toward 'said flange upon swinging saidlever, link means pivotally mounted on said leve'rportion and having apart normally arranged in operative relation to a part of said secondarm and being .shiftable upon swinging said lever 'to cause said parts'to abut and swing the lever means thereby to move the latch device fromdoor latched to door unlatched condition, inner manually operable-meanshaving a lever movably mounted on the support and movable in a firstdirection to engage the link means to shift the same to position saidparts out of operative relation, said last mentioned lever being movablein a second direction and 'engageable with said lever means for swingingthe :same independently of said outer manually operable means to movesaid latch device in'toyunlatched position.

8. In a door latch mechanism for -a swinging door, a support comprisingaplate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door andhaving a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a pivoted latchdevice mounted on the outer 'face of said plateportion, -allever meanspivotally mountedon the inner face of said ,pla'teportion to swing abouta common pivot with said latch device, said lever means comprisingaunitarymemberhaving a plurality of arms, coupling means projectingthrough an aperturein said plate portion fixedly coupling one arm ofsaid lever means to said latch device whereby -both'are swing'able inunison upon actuation of either one, a secondarm of said lever meansextending upwardly from the pivotal axis of said lever means, and a armextending toward said flange, outer manually operable means forpivotally actuating said lever means and including a lever -.pivotallymounted on said plate ,portion and having a portion movable toward saidflange upon swinging said lever, link means ,pivotally mounted on saidlever portion and having a part normally arranged in operative relationto a part of said second arm and being s'hiftable upon swinging saidlever to cause said parts to abut and-swing the -lever meansthereby'tomove the latch device "from door latched to .door unlatchedcondition, inner manually operable means having ailever movably mountedon the support and movablein a first direction to engage the linkmeansto-shifbthe same to position said parts out ofoperativerelation,.sai'dllast mentioned lever being movablei-n asecond'direct'ion andengageable with said :third arm for .swingingsaid lever meansindependently eof said outer .inanually ioperable means to movesaidlatch-device'into unlatched position.

"ReferencesCitedin thefile of this patent v Momma

